Hospital visit kick in the teeth

TRYING to get dental treatment proved a real kick in the teeth for one Rochdale couple. Mahesh Ghauhan, who owns Cravens Shoe Repairs in Manchester Road, tried to get an appointment for his wife, Jashu Ghauhan, who had toothache.

TRYING to get dental treatment proved a real kick in the teeth for one Rochdale couple.

Mahesh Ghauhan, who owns Cravens Shoe Repairs in Manchester Road, tried to get an appointment for his wife, Jashu Ghauhan, who had toothache.

Mr Ghauhan, aged 32, said: "We hadn’t filled out a form to say we were still on the patient list for our local dentist, so we couldn’t get an appointment. So we went to the walk-in-centre at Rochdale Infirmary where I was told I couldn’t interpret for my wife, who is from India and doesn’t speak much English. I felt it was an insult to my integrity to be told I couldn’t interpret for her because of a PCT policy."

The couple were offered an interpreter to assist them, but there was a three-hour wait. Mr Ghauhan added: "It can be really difficult to get a dentist as everywhere seems to be private. We have decided to go private, but even then you have to wait for an appointment."

Ian Mello-Baron, head of strategy and diversity at Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust, said: "It is widely recognised that using a member of the patient’s family as an interpreter is not the best practice in a health care setting and could be clinically inappropriate.

"The patient might not feel able to speak openly about their individual health problems and the family member may not convey the patient’s needs in a comprehensive way. We appreciate that families support relatives but our duty is to ensure the correct diagnosis and treatment of patients. We have a language line with interpreters who can talk to patients over the phone. Face-to-face meetings are arranged as quickly as possible."